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SOWING AND REAPING NEW HARVESTS
SOUTH HAVEN AREA SENIOR
SERVICES (SHASS)
Warren Senior Center
Serving the townships of
Arlington, Bangor, Casco, Columbia, Geneva,
Message from the SHASS Director, Jennifer Carver
Our new Fiscal Year beginning July 1, 2004 through June 30, 2005 will be one of refinement, growth and infrastructure building. During the final quarter of the last Fiscal Year and the beginning of this new year, the SHASS Board of Directors engaged in a five-year strategic planning process that sets the stage for future priorities, guidance and direction for staff and refinement of operations.
The Board has targeted many priorities that will enhance the organization and make it readily responsive to the growing changes in the environment surrounding us. Today the environment in which most non-profits serving the elderly operate, including SHASS, has been identified as the Living Desert, characterized by a shortage of financial resources and technology as we care for seniors and frail elders. We have converted from a Buick to a 4-wheel drive Jeep to negotiate this terrain. We are learning to be savvy and efficient in order to maximize the resources we have and to increase our opportunities for attracting new clients and creating new services.
Therefore with this year come challenges and opportunities. SHASS will continue to expand and improve its programs. We will measure and assess the needs of our elder population to better target the services provided to them. We will measure the quality of our services by engaging in conversations with elders and community people. We will look at ways to tell more people about our services. We will work closely with adult children taking care of their parents or grandparents raising their grandchildren. We will promote healthy aging activities and offer these kinds of opportunities so that we may impact health status at an earlier age. We will create infrastructure that supports our ability to track information about whom we serve and we will ensure that staff have the proper environment to do their jobs.
We will continue to be good stewards of our financial resources and remain accountable to those who support us. We will continue to try new ways to generate more revenue to provide more service. We will do all of this with our whole heart for that is what SHASS is about. We put the heart into service.
Message From The Governing Board President, Marge Lampe
Fiscal Year 2004 was a time for growth for South Haven Area Senior Services.
Early in 2003 millage monies began coming into the organization from the millage passed in August of 2002. Beth Fones, Director of SHASS, spent the months leading up to FY 2004 putting in place the structure and staffing to support growth into the New areas to be served by SHASS, Bangor, Bangor Township, Arlington Township and Columbia Township. By July of 2003, basic activities and programs were in place to provide services to the over-sixty populations of those communities.
The goals of SHASS were to expand its existing services so that they became accessible to the eastern communities. In December 2003, Beth left the directors position, recognizing that the job demanded more time than her personal life allowed. The new director, Jennifer Carver, came with the significant experience in, and passion for senior service provision. Beth prepared the garden, and picked out many of the seeds and plants. Jennifer is nurturing and expanding the organization to further its mission.
When Beth resigned her position, she made several recommendations based on her year with the organization - one of significant growth. Her recommendations and what has been done are as follows:
Meet the SHASS tillers and harvesters the Governing Board of DirectorsThe roots and vision of SHASS
SHASS Board officers: Marge Lampe - President Rev. Jeffrey Dick - Vice-President Ray Giegerich Treasurer Deb Smith Secretary Board Members:Dick Curtis Rich Dutkowski Chris Griffioen Gloria Krogel Sally Watson
SHASS Roots Our organization is a bundle of relations and a knot of roots
In 1982, the South Haven Housing Commission started the Warren Senior Center, located in the lower level of the River Terrace Apartments (540 Williams St.) in honor of Robert N. Warren who took pride in working for more adequate senior housing in South Haven. River Terrace Apartments, 220 Broadway and Harbor View Apartments, 325 Indiana, are independent living facilities for seniors based on income. South Haven Housing Commission manages the living units, which are partially federally funded.
In February of 1995, the Warren Senior Center formed the South Haven Area Senior Services (SHASS), a not-for-profit 501 C-3 organization independent of the Housing Commission. SHASS served the City of South Haven and the townships of Casco, Geneva and South Haven.
In August 1998 the voters of Casco, South Haven, and Geneva townships, and the City of South Haven voted to support SHASS with a quarter mill from tax dollars. This millage along with support from Van Buren County United Way, various grants, private donations and fundraisers, helped support SHASS.
In 2002, voters in the City of Bangor, Columbia, Bangor and Arlington townships, approved expanding the SHASS service area to include those areas. Voters in the City of South Haven and the townships of Casco, Geneva and South Haven voted to renew the senior millage for another four years.
SHASS Programs & Services Provided During FY 2003A garden is known by its fruits, an organization by its deeds. A good service or activity is never lost.
Opening Programs in SHASS Satellite Areas
Director Beth Fones set up monthly social activities and medical screenings in many of the outlying areas now served by SHASS. Fones also laid the groundwork for computer lessons and senior exercise at the Bangor Community Education Center, and she established a nutrition site for lunch at Simpson United Methodist Church in Bangor.
When Miriam Woods joined the SHASS team, she and Fones set up a bingo/luncheon at Columbia Township Hall, a Spring Tea at Simpson Methodist Church, rubber stamping classes and Movie Day at Black River Commons. Woods also started bingo and scrap booking classes in Columbia Township, and set up a Swedish Weaving class, bingo and potluck lunches in Bangor.
With Fones assistance, Woods established a blood pressure/sugar check in Columbia Township and at BangorTownship Hall. Woods organized a Red Cross Home Safety class at Black River Commons, and a Nutrition and Craft Day at Simpson United Methodist Church. Woods also established computer classes in Grand Junction.
Fones added an extra calendar to the SHASS newsletter so seniors in Arlington, Bangor and Columbia townships could better schedule the new activities and services into their daily routines.
Services at the Warren Senior Center were well cultivated
Volunteers Ray Llorens and Carol Elam expanded a support group for caregivers dealing with loved ones afflicted with Alzheimers disease. Llorens continued to assist the Visually Impaired (VIP) through a VIP Support group. The Alzheimers support group met year-round twice a month and the VIP met year-round once a month.
Other annual services offered to help seniors were the Hearing Screening Clinic, podiatrist service, RX assistance, and help with Medicare and supplemental insurance.
Additional services included the 55 Alive a driver safety program, a workshop alerting seniors to various scams, a Bereavement Education and Sharing program, a post polio syndrome support group, a nutrition workshop, cold weather safety tips, tax rebate assistance for seniors, the annual flu shot clinic and a Senior Survival Workshop.
In May, SHASS board member Sheryl Postma organized an Arthritis Self Help Course, which was sponsored by the Arthritis Foundation and Region Four Area on Aging, Inc. Attendees said this workshop was very informative. In October, SHASS started an Epic Program (Elder Prescription Insurance Coverage) that seniors found helpful.
The SHASS Senior Service Directory
The SHASS Senior Service Directory, consisting of over 150 indexed pages listing services available to seniors, was updated (annual task) for all SHASS staff. If people needed information from the directory they called SHASS and the information was given to them either by phone or mail, or copies of needed information were given those who visited the office. SHASS Activities and Services at the Warren Senior Center During FY 2003
Mary Gordon and Sandra Tyrrell, coordinators for Activities and Services, planned activities such as: a Mothers Day Tea, World Religions Seminar with the Rev. Robert Pumfery, Grandparents Lunch and Line Dancing. Other featured attractions were a performance by the The Misfits, a popular seniors singing group, a Gone With the Wind Party and The Wizard of Oz, presented by the Stevens Marionettes.
In addition there was a Self Defense workshop for seniors, a Little Boxes craft class, Harmonica classes, a card writing campaign for troops in Iraq, and other events such as the Ice Cream Social, in celebration of National Senior Centers Week in May.
Annual events such as Bible Study, facilitated by the Rev. Jeffrey Dick, senior exercise and bingo and the Casco Band performance continued without a hitch. Seniors enjoyed the Florida Party and the Holiday Potluck. Annual visits (Christmas and Thanksgiving) from the Covert High School ROTC cadets added a special touch to the holiday season.
In May, Ray Llorens and Sandra Tyrrell went out on a limb and held the 2nd annual Senior Variety Show Extravaganza at the Listiak Auditorium instead of the Warren Senior Center. The show, despite no fancy lights or stage decorations, was a success.
A variety of artists exhibited their works at the Warren Senior Center including the students of Lisa Rostar from South Haven High School and Lynn Cheeseman from St. Basil School. Ray Giegrich, Alice Flood and Ted Martin also displayed their watercolor, mixed media and photography.
Warren Senior Center Rentals
The center was rented 19 times for parties and other gatherings such as club meetings. The center was also rented 11 months for Senior Nutrition and the Hearing Screening clinics. Total rental fees were $1,991 for the fiscal year.
Computer Lessons Thrived at the Warren Senior Center
The Warren Senior Center computer lab was a hub of activity thanks to teachers Nancy Vilims, Al Coe and Ann Habicht. Classes were available four days a week. Seniors learned valuable computer skills such as how to use the Internet, basic Word and basic email tips. SHASS appreciated those capable instructors who donated their valuable time and expertise to help seniors grow in their computer knowledge. There is always room to grow in this discipline. Total persons taking computer lessons at the Warren Senior Center:
In SHASS satellite areas where instructors gave lessons, total persons were:
SHASS Senior Sentinel
This subscription newsletter has increased in distribution by 2,250 (25%) issues over the fiscal year. A general mailing of the newsletter was sent to all the new eastern community seniors for one month. Issues are placed on a monthly basis in each township hall for distribution to those interested but not subscribed to the newsletter. SHASS Continued To Cultivate a Variety of TripsTravel etches figures on the tablet of memory into strong relief.
Ray Llorens started a Travel Club to help people learn more about upcoming trips. He also set up a brochure travel tree at the Warren Senior Center. The favorite trips of the year were Washington D.C., the Detroit Auto Show, Kewadin and Houghton Lake Dinner Cruise.
SHASS Care Watch Sowed Many Kind Seeds During FY 2003Planting services provideth care for many generations.
Home visits with clients increased by 87% with SHASS expansion into new communities. Home contacts by the Care Watch staff nearly doubled during FY 2004. Assigning more than one area to each coordinator increased hours of staff. This change in staff responsibility served to support a consistency in service to the seniors SHASS serves, and provided more hours to staff in order to have a stable employee base.
Care Watch staff members continued to help clients extend healthy independent living for as long as possible. They evaluated the needs of seniors through telephone contact as well as in-home visits. The coordinators made recommendations for assistance such as:
Referral services recommended by Care Watch staff included:
Total Care Watch home visitations:
Total Care Watch phone contacts:
We are so grateful for the help weve received from the Care Watch staff. Quote from clients visited by Care Watch staff
Community CaringCommunity Caring, a volunteer component of SHASS, increased from serving 38 clients to serving over 1,000 with volunteer services.
The grant funding from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation was spent out in June 2004. SHASS board, in recognizing the value of the volunteer arm for the organization that this grant made possible, assimilated the Community Caring program into the Care Watch program to support the connections Care Watch staff hoped to achieve. Through SHASS Community Caring, coordinated by staff member Kathy Pearl, personal services, not handled by other organizations, were provided, such as:
Transportation Via SHASS Van helped sustain seniors independence
The SHASS six-passenger minivan (purchased in May of 2000) served SHASS service areas for transportation City of South Haven and the townships of Geneva, Casco and South Haven. Additional needs for transportation were met with a token system developed in conjunction with the existing service provided by Van Buren County Transit. Rides needed by seniors that were either not served by the SHASS van or Van Buren County Transit, were usually provided by SHASS volunteers.
Dedicated SHASS drivers Ted Martin, Bill Sprague and Harvey Williams made a point to prioritize van rides for medical needs, congregate meals and shopping.
(The Commodity Supplemental Food Program is a program for seniors funded by the federal government.) SHASS staff member Mary Gordon, with help from volunteers, certified and distributed commodities to seniors 60 years of age or older, who qualified by meeting the minimum monthly income requirements. A commodities box consisted of nonperishable food items such as rice, beans, cereal, juice, canned vegetables, canned milk, peanut butter, etc. Distribution took place on the third Thursday of each month from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m.
Senior Nutrition ServicesSeniors tilled conversational grounds at lunchtime
Noon meals were served at the center five days a week. Volunteer, Donna Harper, added a birthday sing-along once a month, and Ray Llorens brought smiles to peoples faces when he occasionally sang for them in his rich bass voice.
There were 22,625 meals provided to seniors including those who ate at the Warren Senior Center for lunch, those receiving home delivered meals and those receiving sack suppers.
Bangor schools offered a well-attended senior lunch program on a monthly basis. To complement that offering, Director Beth Fones worked with Senior Nutrition Services to offer a three-times weekly lunch at Simpson United Methodist Church. Unfortunately, after nine weeks of trying various marketing strategy, SHASS determined the senior community did not support this service. However, monthly box lunches with activities were planned and held in Columbia Township with some success.
FinancesThe nutrients of SHASS programs and services
SHASS Staff
Office: 220 Broadway, South Haven, MI 49090 269-637-3607 or (toll free) 1-866-627-8904
Director ..Beth Fones & Jennifer Carver Directors Assistant/Office Manager ..Georgia Yurkinas Activities & Services Mary Gordon & Sandra Tyrrell Activities & Services Expanded Areas .Miriam Woods Senior Sentinel Editor ..Mary Gordon Receptionist/Clerk AARP June Streit Care Services Coordinator ...Marcy Formigoni Community Caring Director Kathy Pearl Trips Ray Llorens Van Driver .Ted Martin Van Driver (AARP) ...Harvey Williams Senior Center Attendant ...Ann Birmingham Caretaker (AARP) .Al Hollis & Robert Jordon Harbor View Activities (AARP) ...Mary Williams Alzheimers Support Facilitator ...Carol Elam Emergency Card Nurse .Ruth Adkin Drug Assistance Program .Joan Gruber, RN Medicare/Medicaid forms assistance ...Tere Pinon Medicare/Medicaid program counselor ...Vikke Andersen, assistant Computer Instructor ..Nancy Vilims Computer Instructor ..Ann Habicht Computer Instructor ..Al Coe Reading on Tape-Senior Sentinel ..Debra Stevens Commodities Information ..Mary Gordon & Georgia Yurkinas Warren Senior Center Rental Space .Sandra Tyrrell
Care Watch Coordinators: Arlington Township .Vikke Andersen Bangor City . ..Vikke Andersen Bangor Township ..Vikke Andersen Casco Township .David Zimmermann Columbia Township .David Zimmermann Geneva Township ..David Zimmermann Maple Glen & River Ridge . ..Marcy Formigoni South Haven City . ..Laura Shinske South Haven Township .Vikke Andersen
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